New Zealand

New Zealand

Car Hire at Auckland Airport: Fly In, Drive Away

Hiring a car in beautiful New Zealand’s biggest city should be a straightforward experience. Busy airports can be a challenge, but with a pre-booked car rental from Auckland Airport you can be on your way with minimum fuss, to explore this culturally diverse city and the stunning landscapes which lie beyond it.

Book with Us - Comparison Made Easy

Offering all of the best car rental brands and a whole heap of great bargains, our site is the perfect place to book your car hire from Auckland Airport. Here’s why:

● The range of Auckland Airport car rental brands makes it easy to find and compare all of the available vehicles. Don’t waste time tracking down each individual supplier, because we have already done that work for you.

● Filters mean you can prioritise search results. Is cost important? Filter by price to find the cheapest! Is size more of a worry? You can sort them by class of vehicle - from compact vehicles to 4WDs, SUVs and vans.

● If you are finding it difficult to decide, check out the customer ratings section for any given option and seek help from those who have been there and done that.

● The search results display all the information required to choose the right car. Find out right on the first page whether the vehicle has air conditioning, the pick-up procedure, the type of transmission and much more. Symbols make the features easy to understand at a glance.

● The price is right! Our global buying power gives us some of the best prices on the web. It also allows us to provide customers with all kinds of deals and specials, so keep an eye out for these on the front page or in search results.

Car Rental Companies At Auckland International Airport

There are a huge number of Auckland Airport car hire companies. Big-name international companies are trusted and familiar, but you may get more personal service and a better deal with a small local supplier. With our site, you have the choice!

Auckland International Airport has the biggest brands right there in the terminal. Avis, Budget, Europcar and Hertz all have counters in the international arrivals area, making it easy to pick up your car and get on the road. Smaller and local brands such as Omega and Ezi-rent provide shuttles to their nearby depots, an option which means a little more time in transit but often a cheaper price.

Here to Help

The huge range of vehicles can be a little overwhelming, and you will want to get your Auckland Airport car hire road trip off on the right foot. Never fear, our friendly booking team is here to help! Take a look in the Customer Support tab to find a number you can call to get in touch with an experienced car rental consultant. We have freephone numbers for more than 20 countries around the world. Alternatively, send us an email or have a look through our frequently asked questions.

From Auckland, you have plenty of choice of places to go visit. You could start by Rotorua and see how geothermal activity can influence the surroundings, head to Lake Taupo for some beautiful landscapes or drive to the capital city, Wellington. Alternatively, you can take a flight to Queenstown or Christchurch to explore the South Island.

Auckland Car Rental Adventures

Sprawling across an isthmus between two harbours, Auckland is a big place. A car hire from Auckland Airport is the best way to get around and see everything, giving you the freedom to make your own itinerary and go at your own pace.

The city centres on the southern shores of the sparkling Waitemata Harbour, where the Harbour Bridge meets the land. In the CBD you will find a flourishing dining scene, fabulous waterfront cafe culture and a hugely multicultural population. Learn a little about the city and the nation at the War Memorial Museum which overlooks the CBD from a hill, or climb the sky tower to get 360 degree views. Close by you will find the inner-city neighbourhoods of Parnell, Newmarket and Ponsonby with boutique shopping and well-loved restaurants.

Auckland’s suburbs are far from boring. In fact, each part of the city has its own unique vibe and attractions. To the north of the Waitemata is the area known as the North Shore, where upmarket suburbs overlook calm swimming beaches which are great for families. South Auckland is home to a strong Pasifika culture, local markets and views over the vast Manukau Harbour. The western suburbs are backed by the Waitakere Mountain Range, and a drive through these scenic hills will get you to the striking and wild black-sand surf beaches of the west coast. East Auckland’s quiet neighbourhoods are blessed with sandy coves and vistas of the Hauraki Gulf.

Head out of Auckland to really experience the beauty of New Zealand. Northland and the Coromandel Peninsula are both summer holiday wonderlands, filled with sandy beaches, native forests and friendly small towns with dairies (corner stores) selling ice-cream cones.

Remember, New Zealanders drive on the left and all speeds and distances are in kilometres rather than miles. Keep safe on the roads and enjoy your car hire from Auckland Airport.

Auckland Airport Car Rental Brands

Known as the City of Sails, Auckland is New Zealand’s largest city - renowned for its plentiful business opportunities, cosmopolitan vibe and the beauty of its coastal surroundings (hence the nickname), Auckland is a great place to visit for business or pleasure. It’s hard to get around this city without a car though, so to make sure you’re not stranded, we’ve got a short summary of your rental car options in and around Auckland Airport:

On Airport Rental Brands

Look out for Avis Car Rental in the terminal building of Auckland Airport, Ray Emery Drive, Auckland, 2022. Whether you’re after an eco-friendly Hybrid option, a Premium Van to bundle the whole clan into or just a simple Compact model, you’ll find it at Avis in Auckland.

Budget Car Rental is located inside the terminal building at Auckland Airport, Ray Emery Drive, Auckland, 2022. Save big with a Compact model or get a little fancy with an Elite SUV or Toyota GT86 - whatever kind of vehicle you require, you’re sure to find something to suite your needs with Budget.

Hertz Car Rental can be found inside the terminal building at Auckland Airport, Ray Emery Drive, Auckland, 2022. Ride in style with a Prestige Hybrid Lexus or save your money for exploring the city when you pick an Economy or Compact model - these choices and many more await.

Keep an eye out for Europcar Rental inside the terminal building at Auckland Airport, Ray Emery Drive, Auckland, 2022. Boasting the newest rental fleet in New Zealand with an average age of just 11 weeks, Europcar can provide you with anything from zippy Economy models to powerful Full-size SUVs.

Thrifty Car Rental has a counter inside the terminal building of Auckland Airport, Ray Emery Drive, Auckland 2022. Their fleet of late model vehicles includes both Economy options for the budget conscious, and Mid to Full-Size cars for those who need a little extra space.

Bliss Car Rental is situated inside the terminal building of Auckland Airport, Ray Emery Drive, Auckland, 2022. Bliss offers Thrifty vehicles but at special rates - these are exclusive to AirportRentals.com.

Keddy Car Rental can be found at the Europcar desk. They offer Europcar vehicles but their rates can often be among the best in the market - keep an eye out for deals from Keddy.

Auto Europe Car Rental can often be found at either the Thrifty or Europcar desk - Auto Europe is another brand to look out for, as they can quite often have amazing deals.

Apollo Car Rental can be found at the Hertz desk. Apollo offers Hertz vehicles on slightly different terms, which means at certain times of the year they offer fantastic deals - it certainly pays to check what Apollo’s currently offering.

Off Airport Rental Brands

GO Rentals is located just a two minute drive away from Auckland Airport’s Domestic and International terminals on George Bolt Memorial Drive. There’s a complimentary GO shuttle that can take you from your terminal to the rental pick up location. They offer both fantastically cheap Economy options plus station wagons and vans for when you need a bunch of space.

Ezi Rentals is found only a few minutes from Auckland Airport on Percival Gull Place. There’s a complimentary shuttle available that can take you from the airport to the pick up location. Their vehicles range from ultra-affordable SuperSaver models to Full-Size 4WDs and People Movers.

Omega Rentals is situated 3 kilometres from the Auckland Airport terminals on Kingsford Smith Place. A complimentary shuttle can pick you up from the airport and take you directly to Omega’s rental depot. Offering both older and more modern vehicles, you can almost always find great deals with Omega.

Big Value Rentals operates out of the Omega Rentals depot - this brand is often the cheapest in the whole market and is exclusive to AirportRentals.com.

Drive NZ is located nearby Auckland Airport, and offers a complimentary shuttle from the airport terminals to their depot. Drive NZ has an older fleet but they are immaculately maintained and in great condition, offering excellent value for money.

Jucy Rentals can be found just 5 minutes drive away from Auckland Airport on Jimmy Ward Crescent - a complimentary shuttle can pick you up from your terminal and drop you directly at their depot. With a mix of both older and newer models that range across the price spectrum, it’s not hard to find what you’re after with Jucy.

Auckland Airport: Car Hire Depots

From Auckland, you could take your car rental to the furthest reaches to the north to Cape Reinga, or you could drive away on a massive road trip around the North Island - or you could simply head into town for a quick holiday based in this bustling city. No matter where you’re headed, here are the Auckland depots where you can pick up your New Zealand car hire to get started.

Auckland

Auckland is one of the most sprawling cities in the world, so having a set of wheels can get you around is easily the best way to travel if you’re trying to see a lot of it. There are many pick up depots in Auckland where you can get moving, including Omega NZ, Bliss New Zealand Car Hire, Honk, Europcar, Budget, Ace Cars, Jucy Cars, Hertz, Thrifty, Avis, Go Rentals, Big Value, Apollo Cars, Rent and Save Rental Cars, and Scotties Rent A Car NZ.

Auckland downtown

Downtown Auckland is right in the thick of the action near the waterfront, the business district, and Vector Arena. Here, you can visit the pick up depots of Ezi New Zealand and A2B Rentals to get into the driver’s seat of your rental vehicle.

Auckland Airport - Domestic

Auckland’s domestic terminal is an extremely busy one with more than 300 flights per day that connect to New Zealand’s other major hubs such as Wellington, Christchurch, and Queenstown. The domestic terminal is a quick 10-minute walk from the international terminal, or you can take a free shuttle that comes every 15 minutes or so. Here, you can pick up vehicles from Ezi, Omega, Bliss New Zealand Car Hire, Honk, Europcar, Budget, Ace, Jucy Cars, Hertz, Thrifty, AutoEurope, Right Cars, Avis, Go Rentals, Big Value, Drive, Apollo Cars, Snap Rentals, Keddy by Europcar, East Coast Cars, A2B, Firefly and Rent and Save Cars.

Auckland Airport - International

Auckland’s international terminal sees more than 120 flights per day, and is the second largest airport in Australasia for international traffic. It’s located just 20 kilometres from the city CBD (roughly a 35-minute drive), and offers multiple amenities such as supermarkets and stores not far from the airport if you’re looking to start a road trip here. Depots at the Auckland Airport international terminal include Ezi Rent, Omega, Bliss New Zealand Car Hire, Honk, Europcar, Budget, Ace Cars, Hertz, Thrifty, AutoEurope, Avis, Go Rentals, Big Value, Apollo Cars, A2B, Rent and Save Rental Cars, and Scotties Rent a Car NZ.

Auckland Airport Car Hire - Things To Do

As a New Zealand city, visitors may make the understandable mistake that it’s small, and can be explored within just a few days. It’s only after those few days have passed that you’ll realise you’ve barely even scratched the surface of things to do in Auckland in your car hire, and that it would take a lot longer to check out all the fantastic activities and adventures on offer in the City of Sails.

Another thing that might surprise visitors is the public transportation system - it’s really not that fantastic. Buses run in the city but are often late or slow, and it can take multiple changes to get to where you need to be. An Auckland Airport car hire may be your best option to get around all the sights you want to see when you’re in town.

If you’re not sure where to start, here are some of Auckland’s top attractions to check out in your Auckland car rental!

City Walks Z

For many people, the first thing to do in a new city is to take to the streets on two feet and wander through the town, finding large attractions and hidden gems along the way. City Walks Z takes that idea and makes it better, offering a full audio tour of the CBD’s top attractions, with information about each stop along the way. This tour takes 2-3 hours depending on your own pace, so it’s ideal for a morning or afternoon activity. There should be parking nearby the start and finish points to leave your Auckland car hire.

The Sky Tower

The Sky Tower is easily Auckland’s most iconic structure, visible from most points in the city at 328 metres high. You can head up to the top to the two sightseeing levels for 360-degree views of Auckland, enjoy a meal in the rotating restaurant at the top, or even try a skywalk around the edge on the outside, or jump off in a controlled fall back to ground. You can park your car rental in the skycity carpark below the iconic landmark.

Bush and Beach NZ Tours

If you can’t decide whether to stay in Auckland for a tour, or head out and explore the scenery out of the city that New Zealand is known for in your Auckland Airport car hire, take a look at the options available with Bush and Beach NZ Tours. You can explore the Waitakere Rainforest, experience the beautiful Coromandel Peninsula, taste some of New Zealand’s best wines, go further afield or simply explore the city with their many tour options.

Pakiri Beach Horse Rides

There’s are few experiences more freeing than the feeling of wind on your face as you gallop down a scenic beach on horseback. That’s the feeling on offer with Pakiri Beach Horse Rides just one hour north of Auckland - a relatively short drive in your Auckland car hire. Choose from a range of options from short 2-hour excursions, to full day experiences, and even an overnight safari two-day trek.

Kelly Tarlton’s

Kelly Tarlton’s is Auckland’s central aquarium that’s home to 30 live animal exhibits. It’s where you’ll find the largest collection of Antarctic penguins, and where you can watch feeding shows and more throughout the day. For the daring, consider diving into one of the tanks with an instructor to truly get up close and personal with the marine life. Park on ground level along Auckland’s Tamaki drive with your car rental from Auckland Airport and enjoy the underwater experiences Kelly Tarlton’s has to offer.

Tiritiri Matangi Island Walks

Tiritiri Matangi is a small island in the Hauraki Gulf just out of Auckland, and as an open wildlife sanctuary, it’s the ideal place to visit for nature lovers. There are multiple walking options on the island, from quick 10-minute treks to longer 1.5-hour hikes - all of which will offer views, wildlife sightings, and New Zealand plantlife. Drive to the ferry terminal at Gulf Harbour or downtown Auckland in your Auckland Airport car hire and cruise over to enjoy the island’s delights.

Walkways of New Zealand

New Zealand has a number of what is known as ‘gazetted walkways’, which are essentially protected hiking tracks. These paths tend to be through some of the country’s most breath-taking scenery, and are an ideal way to see more of the landscape. There are collection of walkways in and around Auckland, each of which you can walk at your own leisure - you’ll just need your Auckland Airport car rental to get there!

Rangitoto

When you head down to the Auckland waterfront or the beach at Mission Bay in your Auckland car hire, you’ll quickly notice a large island not far off shore. This island is actually a volcano, and is the youngest of New Zealand’s cones, erupting just 600 years ago. Today, the island is a pest-free sanctuary for native wildlife and fantastic hiking spot accessible by ferry.

Puhoi River Canoes

Puhoi is a stunning historic spot just half an hour north of Auckland city in a car rental, and one of the main features of his settlement is the meandering river through its heart. Spend a blissful afternoon paddling the 8 kilometres from the village through to the Wenderholm Regional Park on an unguided tour. The team at Puhoi River Cruises will set you up with all the instructions and information you need then set you on your way to enjoy the serenity of the river.

Ocean Diversity

Oceandiversity is both what you’ll find with this tour operator - and the name of the boat from which you’ll do your exploring. Dive into Auckland’s ocean wildlife hotspots with this husband and wife team in areas such as Goat Island, Little Barrier Island, and the Tawharanui Marine Reserve. You can try scuba diving, spearfishing and snorkelling on a tailored ocean excursion off Auckland’s coast. The drive to Goat Island is around 1 hour from downtown Auckland in a rental car.

Bounce and Beyond

Are you looking to keep kids entertained during your time in Auckland? Bounce and Beyond will certainly do that (and wear them out as an added bonus). This indoor inflatable playground is a great way to get the kids moving and having a great time, and you’ll find it in East Tamaki roughly 25 minutes south of the city with your Auckland car hire.

Auckland Botanic Gardens

Head south with your Auckland car rental on State Highway One and you’ll quickly come across the city’s botanic gardens. Open daily from 8am year-round, the gardens offer a peaceful 64 hectares of lush South Pacific flora that you can explore at your own pace. If you’re around during the warmer months, this is a great spot for a lazy picnic!

Waiheke Island

Waiheke Island is found roughly 40 minutes from Auckland’s waterfront by ferry, and it’s known as much for its beaches and laid-back lifestyle as it is for its wine. You could easily pass a day or two here relaxing, skipping from one wine tasting to another, and perusing the local shops. If you’d like to take your Auckland rental car across to the island, jump on the car ferry from downtown Auckland and head on over in no time.

Location: Hauraki Gulf, Auckland

Muriwai Beach Horse Treks

Scenery, exercise, unique experiences and spending time with beautiful, powerful creatures - it’s hard not to love horse treks, which is why a trip with Muriwai Beach Horse Treks could be an ideal adventure during your Auckland stay. Muriwai Beach is a popular spot for locals for its black volcanic sands and wild scenery, and you can enjoy it all by horseback on a guided tour. The beach is around 45 minutes west of downtown Auckland in your car hire.

Address: Horse Park in Muriwai, West Auckland.Opening Hours: vary

Flight Hauraki

Take to the skies over Auckland with Flight Hauraki and experience the city in a way like no other. Climb aboard with seasoned pilots and view many of the region’s top attractions from the air. You can choose both your starting point and travel itinerary, and you won’t be short of options as Flight Hauraki offers more Hauraki Gulf destinations than any other Auckland airline.

Auckland Museum

The Auckland Museum is found in the domain just a short walk (or very quick drive in your Auckland car hire) from the centre of the city. It doubles as a war memorial and is not just one of the most beautiful buildings in the city, but also a place where you can learn about the city’s and country’s past in a range of fascinating displays.

Spookers

For those looking for a thrill, Spookers, a 40 minute drive south of downtown Auckland is the ticket. Experience a range of emotions from laughing, crying to plenty of screaming while you are chased through a spooky forest with a chainsaw. For those with a strong tolerance, there are a number of activities on offer.

North Shore Helicopter Training

A flight in a helicopter is one of those bucket list items that, when you finally tick it off, you’ll wish you’d done it years earlier. One flight is all it takes to get hooked on this exhilarating feeling, and whether you’re trying your first scenic tour, learning to fly or going for a commercial pilot’s licence, North Shore Helicopter Training has you covered. Take a scenic trip from Auckland’s North Shore out over the city, or further afield to some of the country’s hidden gems. Or, take your heli experience to the next level and try an introductory flight lesson to learn the basics of piloting these amazing machines! No matter the experience, grab your Auckland car rental when you land to get the adventure started.

Everything Else

All of that is just a quick idea of what you can expect from Auckland’s activities. You’ve also got boat tours from the harbour, endless excellent restaurants and cafes along the waterfront and throughout the CBD, an adventure park at Rainbow’s End, and even a haunted attraction at Spookers. Auckland Airport car hire is the best options with vehicles ready to go with Airport Rentals for wherever you want to go as soon as you land, so be sure to nab a set of wheels to get you there.